3 recognized at Northeastern Junior College retirement reception

Gave a total of 55 years of service to the college

Callie Jones Journal-Advocate staff writer

Posted:
05/14/2013 08:05:15 AM MDT

Sandy Kester (second from left), Darrel Parker (center) and Joleen Rinaldo (second from right), were recognized Monday at a retirement reception at NJC. The three have given a combined 55 years of service to the college. Presenting their awards to them are Peter Youngers, Marci Henry and Brenda Zink. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

STERLING — Northeastern Junior College said goodbye to three employees Monday, who have given a total of 55 years of service to the college. Darrel Parker, Joleen Rinaldo and Sandy Kester were recognized at a retirement reception on campus.

NJC President Jay Lee described the three as “very special people, who have served this institution very, very well.”

Parker, who will formally leave the college on June 30, joined NJC in October of 2006, serving as a physical education/math instructor and head women's basketball coach. He gave five years of continuous service in a permanent position.

Prior to coming to NJC, he taught math and coached for many years at Sterling High School.

Athletic Director Marci Henry shared a list of the top 10 reasons NJC will miss about Parker, including his ability to develop talent into his teams, his hard work as an instructor, his ability to make great signs and his friendship, compassion and support.

“It's been a fun transition coming to NJC from Sterling High School,” he said. “Working with the people around here, the professional people that are involved, it was a joy to see.”

“It's going to be hard to leave. I've enjoyed my time here these seven years.”

Rinaldo joined NJC in August 1998 as a secondary med-prep instructor / HOSA Advisor. She will also formally retire on June 30, with 14 years of continuous service in a permanent position.

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During her time at the college, she produced HOSA students and HOSA Teams that competed well at the state and national levels.

Brenda Zink, chair of the science department, said Rinaldo's students “are always so prepared and when they go to conferences they represent our community with the highest standards, because of what she does in her classroom.”

“You can't say enough about the work that she does.”

Rinaldo thanked everyone who's helped her while at NJC.

“Working with the students, sometimes it can be a challenge,” she said. “But by in large it's been very, very rewarding.”

“It's not only been about helping students, but NJC has provided me with a tremendous amount of personal and professional growth, with all the opportunities that have gone along with this program. It's been very rewarding.”

Kester retired on Sept. 30, 2012, with 36 years of continuous service in a permanent position. She was an administrative assistant II in the liberal arts department on campus. She began her employment at Northeastern in September.

Peter Youngers, former chair of the department, described Kester as “almost a legend” at NJC.

“Thinking about what I might say about Sandy and what she has done for us, in the division, first of all I think of efficiency and friendliness and helpfulness, in regards to the faculty and staff, but particularly students” he said. “(She) was always there to help and assist with students.”

He pointed out that she outlasted a number of department chairs, as well as presidents. She also watched the department undergo a number of changes starting with humanities division, then general studies, humanities and student service, arts and sciences and finally liberal arts.

“Northeastern has been like a second home to me,” Kester said. “The instructors, all of the people I've had for bosses, they've all been wonderful.”

She noted when she started at NJC she didn't intend to stay at NJC for 36 years, in fact she considered it more of a transition job and only intended only stay for a couple of years.

“But, I tell you it was just too good a job to leave,” Kester said. “I had wonderful bosses and the instructors just could not be beat and we have the best students in the whole wide world.”

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